Laboratory of wood technology
Head of the research group
Related department
TalTech priority area
Overview
The Laboratory of Wood Technology investigatesthe birch veneer surface properties, quality, andbonding quality. Another main research area iswood and natural fiber polymer composites, wherewe investigate how birch veneer residues can beused in the wood-plastic composites. We developenovel thermoplastic cellulose materials for furthercommodity applications. We also investigate howindustrial hemp can be used to make buildingmaterials and insulation materials.One of our research topics is also cross-laminatedtimber (CLT) panels, which are used for building houses. The impact of moisture content andtemperature on crack formation in CLT panels isinvestigated in the TalTech zero-energy building.
Research group member
Doctoral students
Research classification (Frascati)
Keyword
veneer
plywood
wood-polymer composites
wood and natural fibre composites
furniture
Related projects
Important results
Kallakas, H.; Kattamanchi, T.; Kilumets, C.; Tarasova, E.; Krasnou, I.; Savest, N.; Ahmadian, I.; Kers, J.; Krumme, A.. (2023). Tensile and Surface Wettability Properties of the Solvent Cast Cellulose Fatty Acid Ester Films. Polymers, 15 (12), #2677. DOI: 10.3390/polym15122677. https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Publications/Display/bd25f8f5-c7f1-4f26-8be5-5ccd3b2093aa
- Akkurt, T., Kallakas, H., Rohumaa, A., Hunt, C. G., Kers, J. Impact of aspen and black alder substitution in birch plywood // Forests (2022) vol. 13, 2, art. 142.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020142 - Alao, P. F., Press, R., Kallakas, H., Ruponen, J., Poltimäe, T., Kers, J. Investigation of efficient alkali treatment and the effect of flame retardant on the mechanical and fire performance of frost-retted hemp fiber reinforced PLA // Polymers (2022) vol. 14, 11, art. 2280.
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14112280 - Rohumaa, A., Kallakas, H., Mäetalu, M., Savest, N., Kers, J. The effect of surface properties on bond strength of birch, black alder, grey alder and aspen veneers // International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives (2021) vol. 110, art. 102945.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2021.102945 - Marrot, L., Alao, P.F., Mikli, V., Kers, J. Properties of frost-retted hemp fibres for the reinforcement of composites // Journal of natural fibers (2022) vol. 19, 17, p. 16017-16028.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2021.1904474 - Alao, P.F., Marrot, L., Burnard, M,D., Saarna, M., Kers, J. Impact of alkali and silane treatment on hemp/PLA composites’ performance : from micro to macro scale // Polymers (2021) vol. 13, 6, art. 851, 18 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13060851 - Qasim, U., Osman, A. I., Al-Muhtaseb, A. H., Farrell, C., Al-Abri, M., Ali, M., Vo, D.-V. N., Jamil, F., Rooney, D. W. Renewable cellulosic nanocomposites for food packaging to avoid fossil fuel plastic pollution: a review // Environmental chemistry letters (2021) vol. 19, 1, p. 613-641.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01090-x - Qasim, U., Ali, Z., Nazir, M.S. et al. Isolation of cellulose from wheat straw using Alkaline Hydrogen Peroxide and Acidified Sodium Chlorite treatments: comparison of yield and properties // Advances in polymer technology (2020), art. 9765950, 7 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9765950 - Qasim, U.; Rafiq, S.; Jamil, F.; Ahmed, A.; Ali, T.; Kers, J.; Khurram, M. S.; Hussain, M.; Inayat, A.; Park, Y.-K. Processing of lignocellulose in ionic liquids : a cleaner and sustainable approach // Journal of cleaner production (2021) Vol. 323, art. 129189, 17 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129189 - Kukk, V., Kaljula, L., Kers, J., Kalamees, T. Designing highly insulated cross-laminated timber external walls in terms of hygrothermal performance : field measurements and simulations // Building and Environment (2022) vol. 212, art. 108805.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108805 - Alao, P. F., Marrot, L., Kallakas, H., Just, A., Poltimae, T., Kers, J. Effect of hemp fiber surface treatment on the moisture/water resistance and reaction to fire of reinforced PLA composites // Materials (2021) Vol. 14, 15, art. 4332, 17 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154332 - Qasim, U., Ali, M., Ali, T. et al. Biomass derived fibers as a substitute to synthetic fibers in polymer composites // ChemBioEng Reviews (2020) vol. 7, 6, p. 193−215.
https://doi.org/10.1002/cben.202000002 - Kukk, V., Bella, A., Kers, J., Kalamees, T. Airtightness of cross-laminated timber envelopes : influence of moisture content, indoor humidity, orientation, and assembly // Journal of building engineering (2021) vol. 44, art. 102610.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102610 - Kallakas, H., Rohumaa, A., Vahermets, H., Kers, J. Effect of different hardwood species and lay-up schemes on the mechanical properties of plywood // Forests (2020) vol. 11, 6, art. 649, 13 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f11060649 - Kalbe, K., Kukk, V., Kalamees, T. Identification and improvement of critical joints in CLT construction without weather protection // E3S Web of Conferences : 12th Nordic Symposium on Building Physics (NSB 2020) : Tallinn, Estonia, September 6-9, 2020. [S.l.] : EDP Sciences, 2020. art. 10002, 8 p. : ill. (E3S Web of Conferences ; 172).
https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202017210002 - Alao, P., Tobias, M., Kallakas, H., Poltimäe, T., Kers, J., Goljandin, D. Development of hemp hurd particleboards from formaldehyde-free resins // Agronomy research (2020) vol. 18, S1, p. 679–688 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.15159/AR.20.127 - Kalbe, K., Kalamees, T., Kukk, V., Ruus, A., Annuk, A. Wetting circumstances, expected moisture content, and drying performance of CLT end-grain edges based on field measurements and laboratory analysis // Building and environment (2022) vol. 221, art. 109245.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109245 - Qasim, U., Fatima, R., Usman, M. Efficient barrier properties of mechanically enhanced agro-extracted cellulosic biocomposites // Materials today chemistry (2020) vol. 18, art. 100378, 8 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtchem.2020.100378 - Alao, P., Visnapuu, K., Kallakas, H., Poltimäe, T., Kers, J. Natural weathering of bio-based façade materials // Forests (2020) vol. 11, 6, art. 642, 12 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f11060642 - Kukk, V., Kers, J., Kalamees, T. Field measurements and simulation of an massive wood panel envelope with ETICS // Wood material science and engineering (2021) vol. 16, 1, p. 27-34 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17480272.2020.1712738 - Kukk, V., Kers, J., Kalamees, T., Wang, L., Ge, H. Impact of built-in moisture on the design of hygrothermally safe cross-laminated timber external walls : a stochastic approach // Building and environment (2022) vol. 226, art. 109736.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109736 - Lohmus, Rynno; Kallakas, Heikko; Tuhkanen, Eero; Gulik, Volodymyr; Kiisk, Madis; Saal, Kristjan; Kalamees, Targo The effect of prestressing and temperature on tensile strength of basalt fiber-reinforced plywood // Materials (2021) vol. 14, 16, art. 4701, 9 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14164701 - Kukk, V., Kers, J., Kalamees, T. The use of an internal airtight membrane in CLT external wall in terms of hygrothermal performance // Journal of physics : conference series (2021) vol. 2069, p. 2-4 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2069/1/012208 - Kukk, V., Kers, J., Kalamees, T. Hygrothermal performance of mass timber wall assembly with external insulation finish system // Buildings XIV : thermal performance of exterior envelopes of whole buildings : [conference proceedings]. [S.l.] : ASHRAE, 2019. 9 p.
Hygrothermal Performance of Mass Timber - Kallakas, H., Liblik, J., Alao, P. F., Poltimäe, T., Just, A., Kers, J. Fire and mechanical properties of hemp and clay boards for timber structures // IOP conference series : earth and environmental science, Central Europe towards Sustainable Building (CESB19) 2–4 July 2019, Prague, Czech Republic (2019) vol. 290, art. 012019, 8 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/290/1/012019 - Liisma, E., Kuus, B.L., Kukk, V., Kalamees, T. A case study on the construction of a CLT building without a preliminary roof // Journal of sustainable architecture and civil engineering (2019) vol. 25, 2, p. 53-62 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.25.2.22263 - Alao, P. F., Kallakas, H., Poltimäe, T., Kers, J. Effect of hemp fibre length on the properties of polypropylene composites // Agronomy research (2019) vol. 17, 4, p. 1517–1531 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.15159/AR.19.146 - Kallakas, H., Ayansola, S. G., Tumanov, T., Goljandin, D., Poltimäe, T., Krumme, A., Kers, J. Influence of birch false heartwood on the physical and mechanical properties of wood-plastic composites // Bioresources (2019) vol. 14, 2, p. 3554-3566 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.14.2.3554-3566 - Kallakas, H., Närep, M., Närep, A., Poltimäe, T., Kers, J. Mechanical and physical properties of industrial hemp-based insulation materials // Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences (2018) vol. 67, 2, p. 183-192 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3176/proc.2018.2.10 - Kukk, V., Kalamees, T., Kers, J. The effects of production technologies on the air permeability and crack development of cross-laminated timber // Journal of building physics (2019) vol. 43, 3, p. 171-186 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1744259119866869 - Kukk, V., Külaots, A., Kers, J., Kalamees, T. Influence of interior layer properties to moisture dry-out of CLT walls // Canadian journal of civil engineering (2019) vol. 46, 11, p. 1001−1009.
https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2018-0591 - Alao, P. F., Press, R., Ruponen, J., Mikli, V., Kers, J. Influence of protic ionic liquid-based flame retardant on the flammability and water sorption of alkalized hemp fiber-reinforced PLA composites // Polymers (2023) vol. 15, 18, art. 3661.
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183661 - Tarasova, E., Savale, N., Krasnou, I., Kudrjašova, M., Rjabovs, V., Reile, I., Vares, L., Kallakas, H., Kers, J., Krumme, A. Preparation of thermoplastic cellulose esters in [mTBNH][OAC] ionic liquid by transesterification reaction // Polymers (2023) vol. 15, 19, art. 3979.
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15193979 - Vainio-Kaila, T., Harju, A., Rohumaa, A., Paajanen, O., Venäläinen, M., Seppä, J., Veijalainen A.-M., Pasanen, P. The effect of surface treatment on the antibacterial properties of wood and the possibility to detect the antibacteriality with fluorescence method // Forests (2023) vol. 14, 1, art. 23, 13 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010023 - Kalbe, K., Kukk, V., Kalamees, T. Influence of CLT wetting during the construction phase on the crack formation and air leakages in the CLT // AIP conference proceedings. : AIP, 2023. p. 020028-1-020028-8. (AIP conference proceedings ; 2918).
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0171342 - Kukk, V., Kers, J., Kalamees, T., Wang, L., Ge, H. Hygrothermal criteria for design of cross-laminated timber external walls // Proceedings of the 5th international conference on building energy and environment. Singapore : Springer, 2023. p. 811-815. (Environmental science and engineering).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9822-5_87